Drugs diversion program breaks out

A pilot program that has diverted more than 400 drug users out of the court system and into treatment services was yesterday rolled out across the state.

Aiming to break the drugs-crime cycle, the Magistrates Early Referral Program (MERIT) offers drug treatment before sentencing as a voluntary option for first offenders.

It has been tested in Lismore since 2000 and is now running in 37 local courts and 12 area health services.

Yesterday it was introduced at Burwood Local Court and will extend to Redfern, Newtown, Balmain, St James and Central local courts in the next month.

Jointly funded by the federal and NSW governments, MERIT includes courts, local drug and mental health services, Aboriginal services and specially funded clinicians as part of a 12-week program.");document.write("

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A spokesman for the Special Minister of State, John Della Bosca, said 1135 people had been accepted into the program since it began in Lismore in 2000.

Of them, 426 had completed it and 460 had failed. More than 200 remained in the program.

The director of the drug and alcohol service at St Vincent's Hospital, Dr Alex Wodak, said the program epitomised the principles of drugs law reform - reducing the reliance on law enforcement and transferring people to health and welfare.

"It is taking [drug users] away from a system we know is expensive, ineffective and often counterproductive."

Evaluation of existing MERIT programs found 60per cent of participants had never had any contact with a health service, the chairman of the Central Sydney Area Health Service, Chris Puplick, said.

"That is really alarming; it is a wake-up call about how we get our drug and alcohol services in touch with potential clients," he said.

"It has very wide support from not just the health sector but the police as well."

Residential drug treatment service Odyssey House is providing five beds for the MERIT program.

Chief executive officer James Pitts said diversion programs such as MERIT were vital.

"They act as a conduit for people to enter treatment, which saves money and provides an opportunity for people to actually deal with the underlying problems that led to them becoming involved in drugs."